With so much going on in the world of politics, it’s nice to be able to highlight the positive from time to time and give a shout out to those people who go above and beyond to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I was able to do that last week when I gave a members statement in the Legislature and talked about the World’s Longest Hockey Game which is coming up here in Chestermere. I thought I would share it with you this week and encourage you to come out and volunteer or make a financial contribution if you can. The following is my statement from the Leglislature:
Mr. Speaker, what an honour it is for me to rise today and talk about the ultimate hockey game for charity, which is coming up in Chestermere. From May 4 through May 14 40 hockey players are going to attempt – and I’m sure they’ll succeed – to set a new world record for the longest hockey game ever played. They do have some experience with this as well. It was many of these same players that set the current record of 246 hours just two years ago. Why are they doing it again, you ask?
They are doing it for the kids. Last go-round they raised $1.7 million for the Alberta Children’s hospital. A big portion of that went to kids with cancer. This year they plan on breaking the $2 million mark, and the proceeds will again go to the Alberta Children’s hospital, the foundation for brain health. They will also help with flood relief in Alberta.
They have been training for months. Clearly, they have to. They play four-hour shifts, they take a break, and then they come back and play for four hours more. They will do that for 10-plus days.
This is not just a physical challenge; it is very much a mental challenge, too.
The last time they did this, in fact, Mr. Speaker, one player with a broken foot hobbled to centre ice and spent his shift there, passing pucks so he could stay. Another needed dental work after getting a puck in the face. They can’t leave the rink, though, so he got his stitches and, as they say in hockey terms, sucked it up until the end of the game. I could go on and on about their sacrifices.
It’s really impressive.
I also, though, Mr. Speaker, want to give a shout-out to the town of Chestermere for rolling out the welcome mat for these players and to everybody at the rec centre who is turning the arena into a home for everyone involved for 10-plus days. Eight hundred volunteers will come together to make this happen. It’s extraordinary. I say to Alex Halat and every one of his hockey heroes and volunteers: good luck and Godspeed. I look forward to being there on May 4 for the kickoff and I look forward to being there to congratulate you at the finale on the 14th
